The Complexities of Folding Bikes

by Flat Bike FlatBike

In 2018 there were about 276 million vehicles in the United States and by the end of 2019, this number is expected to increase to just below 300 million. Despite the rising number of automobile registrations in the United States, lots of people use bicycles as their primary form of transportation. Full-size folding bikes are perfect for bicycle riders with an on the go lifestyle.

History

Folding bikes originated in the mid-1900s due to the British military's desire for a bike that could withstand parachute jumps from high altitudes. These bikes were developed so that the seat and handlebars would hit the ground first, this would allow the wheels to stay in tact and the bike would stay operational. They were originally built with a traditional diamond design, but this was too weak to withstand the force of the fall. Engineers then developed an elliptical design with pedals that could be pushed in to avoid snagging.

Features

The most important feature of a folding bike, aside from the folding itself, is the lightweight. All folding bikes are made of lighter weight materials in order to make storage as easy as possible. Of course, lighter materials can cause prices to increase, but this may be a luxury that some bike riders are not willing to compromise for. Some bicycles will remove gear shifting and reduce speeds in order to make the bike as lightweight as possible. There are electric folding bikes as well. These bikes come with motors that accelerate up to 20 miles per hour, so that they can be used on bike paths.

Price

Some folding bicycles can cost a great deal more than traditional bicycles because of the materials they are made of and the efficiency they offer. There are lots of affordable options, but if bike riders want their bicycle to last, they are looking to spend between $500 and $2,000.

Folding Types

Most full-size folding bikes have the aforementioned traditional diamond frames. These frames have one or two hinges so that they can be folded once or twice. Some bikes have a vertical fold design, this leaves the two wheels side by side. Bike riders that travel frequently may want to look into purchasing a folding bike with a breakaway design. This design allows part of the bike to be folded while the other part can be disassembled. The entire frame will be able to fit into a suitcase, enabling easy travel.